Some of the characteristics of those who will stand in the soon coming crisis foretold in the Bible:
Modernism was created to kill God. Post-Modernism is designed to prevent the possibility of any resurrection of faith in Him.
The creators of Modernism were very clear in expressing this wish. A contemporary secular writer Thomas Powell in June 2006 expressed this background clearly: “Modern Art, in collaboration with the historicism of communism, the unfettered and unapologetic greed of capitalism, the relentless materialism of science, and a new Godless philosophy, all collaborated to kill the father-God... The role of modern art in this patricide was to shift the aesthetic.” James Dean typified the modernist approach to life. A rebel without a cause. Art for art’s sake. Everything needing to be emotionally saturated in colour and expressive. A self indulgent self worshipping culture dependant on the next entertaining episode – addicted to emotional highs and lows. Alcohol and drug dependant. Understandably ending in a car crash which may or may not have been suicide. The controversial art critic Robert Hughes said that all these developing ‘isms’ of Modern Art like Post-Impressionism, Cubism, Expressionism, Symbolism, Surrealism, Dadaism, Minimalism, Abstract-Expressionism all began moving in an ever tightening, accelerating spiral; when finally Modern Art disappeared up its own fundamental aperture only to come out the other side as Conceptual Art. Conceptual Art is about thinking, the art of humanity’s ideas being a counterfeit to divine biblical right thinking. The Bill of Human Rights is the Humanist thinking of the instigators of the French Revolution and of Modernism and Post-Modernism. Voltaire and his friends drew up a bill of human rights, which they presented on 2 tablets in the same way God’s 10 Commandments were written by Him on two tablets. This Bill of Human Rights is designed to replace God’s Laws. However, the principles of God’s right thinking from the Bible clearly say you need a revolution in your thinking. The priorities of your culture are projected through all forms of the media and they contradict the principles of the Bible and God’s Ten Laws of Liberty. Every sitcom on television is based on difficult situations in which people lie to cover up their mistakes. These programs are full of exaggeration, infidelity, sex and violence. The adverts tell you, you must have this new pair of shoes or new house or your life is nothing. Many have described modern culture as sex, drugs and rock and roll. The order in reality is actually rock and roll music, alcohol and other drugs and then sex. Mick Jagger’s “I can’t get no satisfaction” perfectly describes the uncurbed insatiable human desire for more. Rock and Rap music are the sounds of the culture of Babylon. Musical artists from Michael Jackson, David Bowie, the Beatles to Jimmy Hendrix speak openly in interviews about being possessed and influenced by spirits. Jayzee the popular rap musician who wears the “do what thou wilt” slogan from the Satanist Alistair Crowley is a leader in the satanic church. David Bowie said “rock music is and always will be the music of the devil”. This culture includes the medical system, which gives doctors in their eight years of intensive training about half an hour of training in nutrition. Supported by huge pharmaceutical companies doctors prescribe drugs or operations, flying in the face of all the scientific evidence showing that diseases are predominantly caused by poor nutrition and lack of exercise. Clarity of thinking also improves with cleaner blood, which is dependent on diet and exercise. Recent studies demonstrate that we are on the cusp of an antibiotic apocalypse. This international research is showing that diseases are rapidly developing immunity to the effect of antibiotics. Their over prescription by doctors and the wide spread habit of many farmers using colostin the antibiotic of last resort in animals are thought to be contributing factors. We may soon be back in an era when the common cold or a scratch can cause infections in many leading to death. This development is coinciding with new super bugs developing in the last 20 years such as HIV, Bird Flu, Mad Cow’s disease, Lyme’s Disease, Ebola. The idols of modernist culture like James Dean continue to impact the thinking and characters of young people today. Walt Disney’s consistent mantra of “follow your heart and it will all work out” perfectly echoes the original Satanist Alistair Crowley’s “Do what thou wilt”. “Do what thou wilt” holding sway in so many marriages and relationships. The result of this relentless agenda is millions of self-centered rebellious individuals with fragile mental health staggering along in purposeless lives. This culture of Babylon of confusion is toxic. It is riddled with poor diet and life styles, mind numbing music and television, a media that showers you with violence, sex and immorality, pornography, overcrowded cities, loneliness, poor quality of relationships, depression, materialism, disease, financial instability, self centeredness, corruption, pollution, busyness, and global warming. This global warming is mental as well as environmental. This toxic culture is not only distracting you from what is good for you and for the world, it is also profoundly damaging to the frontal lobe of your brain. This is the seat of your conscience. The part of your mind that God’s Holy Spirit is striving to speak to you through the cacophony of cultural brain noise. Poor diet, alcohol, busyness, caffeine, sugars, drugs – both medical and recreational, lack of exercise, loud music, lack of sleep, competitive sport all may play a part in dumbing you down by physically killing brain cells and in muddying the capacities of your mind. Mental health issues have become a world wide epidemic for this world wide postmodern culture of push button social media. Modern psychology acknowledges at least 10 categories of common hits that cause depletion in emotional resilience in anyone: 1. Genetic 2. Developmental 3. Lifestyle 4. Insufficient Sleep 5. Addiction 6. Nutrition 7. Toxic 8. Grief/Social 9. Medical Condition 10. Frontal Lobe Studies have demonstrated that anyone who has four of these hits is going to very likely encounter serious depression. Most people in our culture have at least three, which means most people in our culture have a depleted emotional resilience. Their capacity to handle challenging situations is significantly depleted whilst living in a culture of busyness that is constantly throwing up challenging situations. And their likelihood of encountering genuine happiness is low. The good news is that apart from the first two hits the impact of all can be modified, and our mental strength can be improved even if our genes and upbringing was flawed. (Dr Neil Nedley – Depression Recovery) Following the guidelines in this book will alleviate many of the hits above through simple lifestyle changes and study and prayer. The battle in the great controversy between good and bad rages on around us and in our minds. The battle is for our brain and the war is for our will. This world is heating up. The World Meteorolgical Organization has announced 2015 as the hottest year world wide since records have been kept. This heating is not only on an environmental level but moral with same sex marriage being legalized this year. 46 acts of shooting more than 4 people at a time occurred in the US in 2015. This type of violence in mass shootings of apparently innocent people is increasing around the world. Jesus came to give men and women complete restoration; to give them health, peace, and perfection of character. (MH 17.1) Do you want to live according to men’s laws or God’s laws? Your ultimate destination is implied in your answer to that question.
#1. The Divine Pattern From Heaven for You to Get to Heaven – God’s Matrix is the Science of Christianity. It is the Bible blueprint for your salvation, both as a map and as a moment-to-moment practical app.
#2. More Love in Your Life – Love is the fuel and the destination for God’s Matrix – How you can live closer to Jesus through His Divine Pattern – Establishing a continuous loving communion with Jesus Christ as did Enoch, Elijah, Moses, Abraham, David, John the Baptist, and the Apostles. #3. What God is Really Asking From You – in the strong meat of the Bible not just the milk food served up in the churches. #4. The Battle is for Your Brain – The real war is not about ISIL on television. It is against your sin, and that may be overcome only through your right thinking. It is the thinking that leads to your actions, habits and character and hence to your ultimate destination. Learn and apply God’s Matrix for Your Salvation and the biblical principle of response–ability rather than react–ability, and lose the stinking thinking. #5. You are Now Living in the Midst of Rapid Bible Prophecy Fulfillment – Understand the Bible prophecies fulfilling around you daily. Learn how to prepare for the soon coming crisis foretold. Understand God’s particular emphasis for His people today. Become part of God’s movement through His Remnant People now – to rid this earth of sin, pain and suffering forever. #6. Longer Life, Better Health, Improved intelligence
#7. Revolutionary Points of Difference
The World’s Most Famous Sermon is a Bomb – a Complete Revolution( Matthew Chapters 5,6 & 7)5/18/2016 The Sermon on the Mount astonished its hearers (Matthew 7:28). Jesus had taken the disciples and His followers up to a high place to hear this most profound message. There had been insufficient space on the narrow beach below. Every word He uttered came from God, and He spoke with the authority of heaven. "The words that I speak unto you," He said, "they are spirit, and they are life." John 6:63. His teaching is full of ennobling, saving truth, to which men's highest ambitions and most profound investigations can bear no comparison. He was alive to the terrible ruin hanging over the race, and He came to save souls by His own righteousness, bringing to the world definite assurance of hope and complete relief. {CT 439.1} All who heard the Saviour "were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power" (Luke 4:32)
Failure of the Nation in the Practical Application of the Sanctuary God’s chosen people the Jewish nation had gone off track. Their sanctuary services had become a series of outer ceremonies and rituals that were having little impact on transforming the hearts and minds of the people towards God. They were the salt of the earth. However, the salt had lost its strong and distinctive flavor. And what good is salt when it has lost its flavor? (Mat 5:13) It is good for nothing, but to be cast out and to be trodden under foot of men. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, [thou] that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under [her] wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. (Matthew 23:37,38) And the Romans laid waste to Jerusalem burning down the Jewish temple. 6 million Jews were killed by the Nazis in the Holocaust in the darkest chapter of human history. Jesus makes this point by beginning the sermon with the Beatitudes in the pattern of the sanctuary. "Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see God." The Jews were so exacting in regard to ceremonial purity that their regulations were extremely burdensome. Their minds were so occupied with rules and restrictions, and the fear of outward defilement, that they lost sight of the necessity for purity of motive and nobility of action. They did not perceive the stain that selfishness, injustice, and malice, leave upon the soul. {2SP 208.2} Jesus declared that the pure in heart should see God. They would recognize him in the person of his Son, who was sent to the world for the salvation of the human race. Their minds, being cleansed and occupied with pure thoughts, would more clearly discover the Creator in the works of his mighty hand, in the things of beauty and magnificence which comprise the universe. They would live as in the visible presence of the Almighty, in a world of his creation, during the time that he apportions them here. {2SP 208.3} Those who realize their plight in need as they recognize their sinful state in the light of the presence of Jesus. Sorrow at the foot of the cross at the pain our sin has caused Jesus and the gap sin creates between us and Jesus is the cause for genuine repentance. If the Christian possesses the Meekness of his Master, he will rise above the slights, the rebuffs, and annoyances to which he is daily exposed, and they will cease to cast a gloom over his spirit. That meekness which Jesus blessed, operates amid the scenes of domestic life; it makes the home happy, it provokes no quarrels, gives back no angry answers, but soothes the irritated temper, and diffuses a gentleness which is felt by all within its charmed circle. It calms the inflammable spirit of retaliation, and mirrors forth the character of Christ. {2SP 206.2} These beatitudes are a road map of spiritual progress from the altar of self sacrifice in the courtyard of the Ancient Hebrew Sanctuary to walking by faith with Christ in the Most Holy Place as a peace maker whom the world will persecute as they did Jesus. Jesus presented the true meaning and intent of the sanctuary pattern here as a blue print for dealing with sin. Not by the blood of animals but by transforming His people by the renewing of their minds by walking in loving faith with Jesus each moment each day. Watching and praying lest they enter into temptation. Having given the extension of understanding in the purpose of the Sanctuary pattern to include the way to keep our thoughts connected towards Jesus. He went on to give the extension to the Law to include our accountability for our thoughts in the judgement. So here is an extension of the Sanctuary Pattern to a matrix for keeping our thoughts righteous and an extension of the Law to include response-ability in our thoughts. (Mat 5:21-28) The church leaders had drifted away from the mindset in the spirit that the sanctuary pattern pointing to Jesus was designed to instill. The covenant was still good from God’s side. But it had failed to be kept by the Hebrew people. Theirs was a declaration of faith with lots of outer ceremony with little genuine humility before God. They had failed to listen to the calls for reforms that God’s messengers the prophets had spoken. When the Seventh Day Adventist church began keeping all God’s Ten Commandments they were blessed with a prophet. The reforms called for by Ellen White are widely ignored today and most SDA church pastors will not preach with the testing truths she wrote of in her Volumes of the Testimonies to the Churches. SDA’s call themselves the people of the Sanctuary. However the mindset in Christ and right thinking taught through the Sanctuary by Jesus, the Bible, Paul and Ellen White is like a lost doctrine today. Except your righteousness shall exceed that of the church leaders you shall in no case enter the kingdom of heaven. Benevolent Disinterest Do not resist evil but love your enemies and help them. What greater condemnation could there be than someone who has been wronged helping the person who has wronged them? When we receive Christ as an abiding guest in the soul, the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, will keep our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. The Saviour's life on earth, though lived in the midst of conflict, was a life of peace. While angry enemies were constantly pursuing Him, He said, "He that sent Me is with Me: the Father hath not left Me alone; for I do always those things that please Him." John 8:29. No storm of human or satanic wrath could disturb the calm of that perfect communion with God. And He says to us, "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you." "Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest." John 14:27; Matthew 11:29. Benevolent disinterest concludes chapter five of Matthew. Where Jesus calls us to not only love those close to us who we find easy to love but also to love our enemies. Our benevolence is to not be stained by self-interest. Jesus emptied Himself, and in all that He did self did not appear. He subordinated all things to the will of His Father. And He bids us, "Learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart." "If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself"; let self be dethroned, and no longer hold the supremacy of the soul. {MYP 162.1} Human nature is ever struggling for expression, ready for contest; but he who learns of Christ is emptied of self, of pride, of love of supremacy, and there is silence in the soul. Self is yielded to the disposal of the Holy Spirit. Then we are not anxious to have the highest place. We have no ambition to crowd and elbow ourselves into notice; but we feel that our highest place is at the feet of our Saviour. We look to Jesus, waiting for His hand to lead, listening for His voice to guide. The apostle Paul had this experience, and he said, "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me." --Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing," pp. 14, 15. {MYP 162.2} Prayer Short and simple in public prayer. Prayer is more to be a private communion with Jesus. When thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly (Mat 6:6). The Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6 is given here by Jesus in the form of the divine Sanctuary Pattern. Thereby the extension to the Law to include our accountability for our thoughts is surrounded by the Pattern to keep this right thinking, at the beginning by the Beatitudes and afterwards by the Lord’s Prayer. Here is the model prayer and scripture tells us to Watch and pray always through this Sanctuary pattern for right thinking, that we enter not into temptation. Right Thinking After outlining our responsibility in the Law for our thoughts, in chapter 6 of Matthew Jesus talks about focusing the thoughts: The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. (Mat 6:22) Not to focus on the worldly but on the heavenly. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. We are to be looking always towards Jesus with 100% of our heart our soul and our Minds. The word thought is repeated six times from Mat 6:25 to 6:34. Our diligent seeking is to be towards His righteousness which in this context clearly means right thinking. Then He will bless His people with their needs. Judge not and ensure your life is first on track before trying to help others. And your Father in heaven like a worldly father will answer the prayers and calls of His children. There are few who find the way to life. Many will call to God for salvation but without following His will, training the thoughts and character to be built on the Solid rock that is Jesus they shall not enter the kingdom. Those who do not conform to these words of His righteousness shall be swept away in the storms of life and death. With Jesus as the foundation The Sermon on the Mount may be summarized as – Your thoughts lead to your actions, leading to your habits leading to your character formation, which will determine your ultimate destination. What do you call a highly refined wheat product that has been stripped of 11 known vitamins, half a dozen nutritionally significant minerals, as well as the essential fatty acids? Some would say nutritional junk.
Bread is used by Christ to represent His gospel. “I am the bread of life.” (Jn 6:35), “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God“ (Matthew 4:4), and in the Ancient Hebrew Sanctuary on the table of showbread. The Christian commission is to take the everlasting gospel to the world. But are you absolutely and completely sure you have the whole everlasting gospel? The Bible teaches the gospels of grace and glory together. But tragically modern Christianity teaches only the gospel of grace. Do you really have the wholemeal bread to share or do you have the white, refined bread that has no complete nutrients? In the refining/bleaching process modern bread makers also add in the following chemicals Aluminum chloride Azocarbonamide Benzoyl peroxide Calcium propionate Calcium sulfate Chlorine Chlorine dioxide Nitrogen dioxide Potassium bromate Potassium iodate Studies have found that rats fed exclusively on white bread fare poorly. Their fur falls out and they begin to eat each other. Rats fed on a diet of wholemeal bread suffer no such problems and live on. When Christ came no one but the wise men of the east were ready. He came to deliver a much needed message for a deeper understanding of the everlasting gospel. This extension included both the gospel of grace and the gospel of glory. He inquired of people whether they believed in Him. Then He restored their health. And then He told them to go and sin no more. When He gave His first major sermon on the mount (Mat 5,6 & 7), He expected people to understand the sanctuary teaching. The eight beatitudes follow the journey of Christian maturity reflected in the pattern of the sanctuary – from grace to glory. Blessed are the poor in spirit resonates with Revelation 3:17. We must realize our need for Christ in our life. Then when our character reflects His character the world will revile and persecute us as in the last of the beatitudes. Jesus gave on Mount Sinai the sanctuary message first to Moses and then the 10 Commandments. First the pattern of Christ for how to keep the Commandments and then the Commandments. In the Sermon on the Mount He again first gave that extraordinary divine pattern. And then He reminds the people that the Law will never change. He then goes on to expand on the Law. He tells us that it is not only the outer actions but also our thoughts that we are accountable for in the Judgement. “Bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” (2 Cor 10:5) Monsanto is a huge company that supplies most of the world’s wheat farmers with their seed for planting a crop. Many of the seeds have been genetically modified, they have been sprayed with toxic pesticides, fertilizers, herbicides and mold inhibitors. These seeds are terminator seeds. The seeds of the plants that grow from them will not germinate. They are unable to give new life. This is the same with the partial Christian gospel that is taught in most churches. The promise of forgiveness and eternal life is taught without the conditions for receiving the promises that accompany every Bible verse promise. For example John 14:14 “Ask anything in my name and I will do it.” And John 14:15 “If you love me keep my commandments.” Many are led to believe they are saved by merely declaring their faith without demonstrating their faith. Christ said it both ways: “I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh.” (Ez 11:19) “Cast away from you all your transgressions whereby you have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit.” (Ez 18:31) By themselves either one of the verses above represent terminator seeds, not leading to everlasting life. One is liberal the other conservative. We begin with accepting the blessings of grace and through faith we are led towards glory. Do we then make void the law through faith. God forbid: yea we establish the Law (Romans 3:31). Blessed are those who do the commandments. And they shall see His face and His name shall be in their foreheads. Behold I come quickly and my reward is with me to give every man according as His work shall be. (Rev 22:14,4,12) Here are those that keep the Commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Living according to every word that proceedeth from God in this book called the Bible. The greatest single deception by the enemy of souls leading millions of Christians to their spiritual destruction is to believe they are saved whilst still consciously sinning. This is a terminator seed. Peter in his second letter warned of this heresy led by the antinomians as it corrupted the Roman church 2000 years ago. The invention of the false doctrine of original sin is unbiblical. It promotes a very misleading idea of the nature of sin. The original sin was committed by Satan in heaven. You are not guilty when you are born. When you are old enough to know better and your conscience is fully developed, then if you act against the words of God, then you are sinning. You and I have a choice to sin or to resist the temptation to sin. This is what is meant to surrender your will to the will of God. “For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins” (Hebrews 10:26). Christ came in fallen human flesh and was subject to temptations as we are (Romans 8:3 & 4). He overcame by living a perfectly sinless life as an example for us. If Christ came in the unfallen nature of Adam before the fall there would have been no point to the sacrifice at calvary. It would have been an example of a nice gesture of a caring God. Believing this would be like planting a terminator seed. But the true nature of Christ in fallen human flesh makes His sinless life and complete sacrifice bearing our sins - a world shaking defeat of Satan in the great controversy between good and evil. Putting to shame the accuser who declares man cannot overcome sin. Enoch walked with God and was taken to heaven. Elijah also and Moses are in heaven. The book of Hebrews and the rest of the Bible give many examples of sinful men who have turned their lives around choosing to leave sin behind. A cloud of witnesses the author describes them as examples cheering you on in the race of faith to keep your eye upon Jesus and to reflect His character. “Let us lay aside every weight and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12:1). Therefore the two fertile seeds for the understanding of the wholemeal gospel are: 1/ The nature of sin is a function of choice and free will. 2/ The nature of Jesus Christ in His life, death and resurrection – was divinity cloaked in fallen human flesh. The Terminator seeds of the partial white bread gospel are: 1/ The nature of sin is that you are guilty and you can do nothing, accept Jesus without making changes in your life and be saved. 2/ The nature of Jesus Christ in His life, death and resurrection - Jesus came in divinity, in unfallen flesh. The conclusion of the Bible, the book of Revelation screams out the wholemeal message to the believer seven times in chapters 2 & 3, that we must overcome sin in the same way and in the same fallen human flesh as Christ overcame sin. This is the bread of heaven, the unpopular wholemeal everlasting gospel that will lead to everlasting life. “Narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life; and there are few who find it” (Matthew 7:14). Spiritual malnutrition is the result of the absence of the wholemeal gospel in modern Christian churches today. The only security for any soul is right thinking. Another Level of Watching is Required Scripture is full of inspiration to watch with more diligence. The Sermon on the Mount presents the requirement of the Law for you to control your thoughts. Matthew 26:41 describes how Christ invited disciples to watch with Him and to pray on that fateful evening in the Garden of Gethsemane. And what did they do? They fell asleep. The parable of the sleeping virgins in Matthew 25 infers that character development and vigilant watching are synonymous. The disciples were at that time lacking in understanding but after Jesus’s death the Holy Spirit converted their understanding. Their watching then was empowered by the Holy Spirit. We all need to wake up! “Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.” (Luke 21:36) "Take ye heed, watch and pray" were the words of our Saviour spoken in reference to the time of the end, and His second coming to take His faithful children home. {LHU 368.2} First, you are to watch. Watch, lest you should speak hastily, fretfully and impatiently. Watch, lest pride should find a place in your heart. Watch, lest evil passions should overcome you, instead of your subduing them. Watch, lest a careless, indifferent spirit comes upon you, and you neglect your duty and become light and trifling, and your influence savor of death, rather than life. Second, you are to pray. Jesus would not have enjoined this upon you, unless there was actual necessity for it. It is well known to Him that of yourself you cannot overcome the many temptations of the enemy, and the many snares laid for your feet. He has not left you alone to do this; but has provided a way that you can obtain help. Therefore He has bid you to pray. {LHU 368.4} Jesus, the precious Saviour, enjoined watchfulness. The oversight of self must not be relaxed for a moment. The heart must be kept with diligence, for out of it are the issues of life. Watch and discipline the thoughts, that you may not sin with your lips. {1SM 405.3} Without the eye of watch and prayer open (Mat 6:22), the feelings and emotions are subconscious. Not only does this lead to a reactive life rather than a responsive life, but also these emotions are stored in tightness in the body. Sore necks, sore backs, headaches and digestive disorders are very common in our culture; leading to dis-ease and a state of dis-grace. Many people wind up up-tight. Watch In and Watch Out! We are to watch every avenue of the soul, lest Satan come in and desecrate the temple of the heart, which should be wholly consecrated to God. We are to watch lest passion take possession of the soul, to watch lest selfish thoughts are cherished. The reason why there is not more vitality and power in the church is that we do not work and watch as we should. We should stand as faithful sentinels at the post of duty. I pray that the grace of Christ may come into our hearts, and that we may be ever watching for opportunities to do good. {ST, August 6, 1885 par. 14} "Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober" (1 Thessalonians 5:6). "Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation." (Mark 14:38). Watch against the stealthy approach of the enemy, watch against old habits and natural inclinations, lest they assert themselves; force them back, and watch. Watch the thoughts; watch the plans, lest they become self-centered. Watch over the souls whom Christ has purchased with His own blood. Watch for opportunities to do them good. {6T 410.3} 1. Watch the Physical Senses “You will have to become a faithful sentinel over your eyes, ears, and all your senses, if you would control your mind, and prevent vain and corrupt thoughts from staining your soul.” {MYP 76.1} “The lower passions have their seat in the body and work through it. The words flesh or fleshly or carnal lusts embrace the lower, corrupt nature; the flesh of itself cannot act contrary to the will of God. We are commanded to crucify the flesh, with the affections and lusts. How shall we do it? Shall we inflict pain on the body? No; but put to death the temptation to sin.” {1MCP 236.2} 2. Watch for the Habitual Reactions - positive, negative or neutral reactions to physical sense stimuli (Watch and Pray) “Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.” Mark 14:38. Watch against the stealthy approach of the enemy, watch against old habits and natural inclinations, lest they assert themselves; force them back, and watch. Watch the thoughts, watch the plans, lest they become self-centered. 6T 410.2
3. Watch for the Stories & Emotions “Evil thoughts destroy the soul. The converting power of God changes the heart, refining and purifying the thoughts. Unless a determined effort is made to keep the thoughts centered on Christ, grace cannot reveal itself in the life. The mind must engage in the spiritual warfare. Every thought must be brought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. All the habits must be brought under God's control.” {1MCP 235.3}
4. Watch the Face of Jesus - Love “If Christ is abiding in the heart, He will be in all our thoughts. Our deepest thoughts will be of Him, His love, His purity. He will fill all the chambers of the mind. Our affections will center about Jesus. All our hopes and expectations will be associated with Him. To live the life we now live by faith in the Son of God, looking forward to and loving His appearing, will be the soul's highest joy. He will be the crown of our rejoicing.”--Lt 8, 1891. (HP 163.) {1MCP 238.2}
Examples
A noisy blowfly buzzes into a quiet room in which you are peacefully reading a book. 1. The first thing you notice is the physical sensation of the sound of the buzzing insect in your eardrums. 2. The second thing is you automatically and instinctively judge that experience. Quite likely you will have an automatic negative reaction of aversion to the sound. 3. The third thing is you have an emotional response associated with the aversion to the sound. This emotion then develops an internal chatter or a story in your mind about how annoying the fly is. 4. If you have not been watching these modes of thinking develop then on auto pilot you will have taken your eye off Jesus. And with the impetus of these four modes of thinking you are propelled to react automatically; perhaps in this case to get some fly spray and kill the offending creature. If the situation instead was a friend coming in to the room and turning the television on, you might on autopilot have the same reactions and speak words you would later regret. However, if at any of these stages you are truly watching, then you have a choice to avoid the temptation to become angry at the fly. If you are not watching you will not notice the temptation until it is too late. “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation for the spirit is indeed willing but the flesh is weak.” (Matt 26:41) So these gears are not about preserving flies but about learning to see and overcome temptation. This is a practical application of the Lord’s Prayer and the Sanctuary Message. The same process of four gears happens in response to any sensory input. If you are not watching, the same process might happen when your wife or husband says something you don’t like. Instead of killing the insect you might be very tempted to say something negative that is damaging to your relationship - reacting rather than responding. By keeping your connection to Jesus intact by seeing His face and character before you always; combined with the vigilant watching always, you are awake and the Holy Spirit has the best opportunity to guide you away from temptation through your conscience. Another example of reacting might be attraction. Perhaps you have already had one serve of the apple pie and know you’ve had enough, but there is the rest of the pie in full view and that delicious aroma. The same gears are in play but in the case of the apple pie the reaction to the sensory input is positive in attraction/desire. And you need a lot of discipline to be able to watch and pray always that you may be able to make strong decisions to refrain from temptation. To remember to receive Jesus for that strength (Jn 1:12). This prayer part of watch and pray always is very important. If God is so All Powerful Why does He let the Terrible Things Happen?
This is the number one question that people ask about God. It’s a great question. How can we possibly worship a God that allows the terrible disasters that happen in the world around us daily? Why is the havoc caused in young lives by drugs and immorality allowed to continue? The profound answer is cosmic in scale. The Bible tells us in Revelation 12:7-9 that one of the highest angels in heaven wanted more status and more power. He had told the other angels that if he was in charge their life would be better with less rules. He accused God of being a tyrant. A third of all the millions of angels believed Lucifer. What was God to do? If he squashed Lucifer and the rebellion, the other angels would be left with a lingering doubt as to whether the accusations might have been true. God cast the rebels out of heaven to earth. With an aching heart God has had to watch as the seeds of sin bear their bitter fruit. Satan managed to tempt Eve and Adam into sin and corruption has been in this world ever since. God sent His only Son Jesus to show in human form a sinless life in selfless love and He took on all of our sins and was crucified to atone for those sins. That means if we accept the love of Jesus and repent of our sins and follow His way in love and kindness we may be resurrected to live with Him forever. 1 John chapter four tells us twice that God is love. Love is both the fuel for the journey and the destination. The God of love wants people in heaven with Him who love Him whom He can trust. If there was no opportunity for people to do bad things He would not know who truly loved Him, nor whom He could trust. This battle between good and evil continues around us and in our minds. In fact the battle is for our brain, the war is for our will. When God made humanity he created us with holes in our hearts that may only be filled with the divine love of Jesus Christ. This is why people love movies where the good guys win. People try vainly to fill the void in their hearts in all manner of ways, buying things, making money, drugs, overseas trips, food, relationships, sports, entertainment. We have this propensity to self-centeredness partly because we don’t understand how this ache in our heart may truly be filled. How we deal with that propensity will determine our destiny. The war that began in heaven long ago (Rev 12: 7) called the great controversy is continuing around us and in our lives every day and night. The suffering and pain in this world is caused by Satan and his angels called demons who want you to believe God causes the suffering. The complete answer to that number one question, “Why does God allow the suffering to continue?” we may only fully be able understand in heaven. The enemy of soul’s mantra is “do what thou wilt” as opposed to “thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven”. Self-centeredness v’s Christ centeredness. When there are 144 000 alive who are overcoming sin through Jesus Christ, then He will return to take His people home to heaven. God will have been vindicated in the Great Controversy and sin and suffering will be eliminated from the universe. God’s Matrix for your Salvation is a manual that outlines the way you may be a part of God’s glorious cause to eliminate sin and pain from this universe now. The Ancient Hebrew Sanctuary pointed to the future coming of Jesus. When Jesus came He pointed to the divine Sanctuary Pattern. He wanted His disciples to understand what they had not internalized; a deeper understanding of the Sanctuary Pattern for their salvation. The New Covenant ratified at the Last Supper is the Sanctuary Pattern.
The most widely read scriptures of the Bible all Point to the pattern of the Sanctuary. Even the model prayer Jesus gave us is the Sanctuary Pattern. And He instructed us to watch and pray always – through the pattern of the Sanctuary. 1/ The Ancient Hebrew Sanctuary 1. the Altar of Sacrifice - Reconciliation 2. the Lavar of Water - Justification 3. the Holy Place - bread, seven branched oil lamp, altar of incense - Sanctification 4. the Most Holy Place - containing the Ark of the Covenant, the 10 Commandments and the presence of God - Perfection 2/ The Lord’s Prayer 1. Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven - Reconciliation; 2. Forgive us our debts - Justification; 3. Lead us away from temptation and protect us from evil – Sanctification; 4. Power and glory forever – Perfection. 3/ The First Four Commandments 1. I AM the Lord thy God & have brought you out of Babylon/Egypt - Reconciliation 2. Get rid of your idols; Love Me and keep all My Commandments - Justification 3. Take my name not in vain but fruitfully and productively; Bear the fruits of the spirit to glorify my name - Sanctification 4. You then will enjoy the profound covenant rest in God that keeping the Seventh Day Sabbath points towards, which is the Seal of God - His righteousness 4/ The Exodus Journey 1. Sacrifice of the Passover lamb, 2. Passing through the Red Sea, 3. The manna (bread from heaven), the burning bush, the altar, 4. Moses met with God and received His Law and the Sanctuary Pattern for keeping it. 5/ Psalms 23 1. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2. He leadeth me beside the still waters. 3. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. My cup runneth over. 4. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever 6/ Isaiah 53, 54 The Autobiography of Jesus Written 700 Years Before His Birth 1. He was wounded for our transgressions…cut off from the land of the living 2. …He had done no violence, neither was any deceit in His mouth 3. The pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand. He shall see of the travail of His soul, and shall be satisfied: by His knowledge shall My Righteous Servant justify many… and made intercession for their transgressions 4. The Lord of Hosts is His name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall He be called. 7/ Isaiah 58 1. There is no peace for the wicked. Show my people their transgressions (Is 57:19-21; 58:1) 2. You shall not fast as you do this day to make your voice to be heard on high – to undo the heavy burdens and to let the oppressed go free. (Is 58:4-6) 3. If you give bread to the hungry, cover the naked – be a light as the morning, then shall thy call be answered by the Lord. (Is 58:7-9) 4. Restore the paths to dwell in – The Law and the Sanctuary – Delight thyself in the Lord. (Is 58:10-14) 8/ Ezekiel’s vision of the Four Faced Cherubim (Ezekiel 10:14) 1. The self-sacrifice of a man, 2. The directness of a cherub, 3. The heart of a lion, 4. And the eye of an eagle. 9/ The Book of Daniel 1. The sacrifice of the ‘unblemished’ of Israel; a eunuch, 2. Purposing in his heart not to be defiled; 3. Standing in God when others were bowing the knee to an idol, standing in the furnace of affliction with Christ, in the lion’s den, and powerful intercessory prayer, 4. And then seeing far like with the eye of an eagle into the future in the last three chapters with the angel Gabriel and with assurance of his own salvation. 10/ The Four Chapters of the Book of Malachi – The End of the Old Testament 1. You offer polluted bread on my altar (wrong thinking not right thinking) 2. If you will not hear and lay it to heart I will spread dung upon your faces 3. He is like a refiner’s fire, and like fuller’s soap 4. Unto you that revere my name shall the Sun of Righteousness arise with healing in His wings. Remember the Law of Moses. 11/ The Structure of the New Testament 1. The four gospels are about the sacrifice of Christ’s perfect life and death; 2. Acts is the baptism of the Holy Spirit, 3. Romans to Jude is about Bible study, witnessing and prayer; 4. And Revelation is about the throne room of God. 12/ Four Gospels Christ presented by: 1. Matthew as King, 2. Mark as Servant, 3. Luke as the Saviour, 4. John as the Creator of the universe. 13/ The Gifts of the Wise Men of the East The wise men were the only ones ready for Christ’s arrival on earth 2000 years ago. 1. The gold of their faith and self-sacrifice (Altar of sacrifice/Reconciliation); 2. The white sap of frankincense (Laver of water/Justification/Purification); 3. The red sap of myrrh (Holy Place/Sanctification); 4. The presence of the infant Jesus Christ (Most Holy Place/Glorification); And the spirit of prophecy tells us that the star above was the light of a company of angels overlooking the scene. 14/ You are to Overcome in the Way Christ Overcame – Matthew Chapters 2,3 & 4 1. He came out of Egypt after the slaughter of the sons of Bethlehem 2. Was Baptised 3. 3 Temptations were overcome by 1/living by every word of God, 2/led by the Holy Spirit not putting the Spirit to the test, 3/worshipping and serving God 4. Angels ministered to Him and the people which sat in darkness saw great light 15/ The Beatitudes – Christ Expected the People to Understand His Pattern – Mat 5 1. Poor in Spirit – Rev 3:17, Mourn – Ez 9:4, at the foot of the cross 2. Meek – Luke 18:9-14, Hunger and thirst - Gen 33:26, Dan 1:8 3. Merciful – Mat 6:12, Pure in heart - Heb 8:10, Rev 14:12 4. Peacemaker – Mat 5:39, Persecuted and reviled for His name’s sake - Mark 13:13 16/ Four Elijah’s 1. Historical Elijah – sacrifice 2. John the Baptist – Justification 3. The Apostles – Bible Writing, witnessing to the whole world, powerful prayer – Sanctification 4. God’s last day Remnant People – Stand before God without an intercessor - Perfection 17/ The Mount of Transfiguration (Mat 16:24 – 17:5) 1. Let him deny himself - Reconciliation 2. After six days – 7th day - his raiment was white as the light - Justification 3. Moses and Elijah – the Law and the Prophets are alive - Sanctification 4. A bright cloud and God’s voice from it - Perfection 18/ Roman’s 12:2 1. Be not conformed to the world. - Reconciliation 2. Be transformed by the renewing of your mind. - Justification 3. That you might prove what is that good and acceptable. - Sanctification 4. And perfect will of God. - Perfection Know ye not that ye are the temple of God? (1 Cor 3:16). 19/ Rest in God - Hebrews 4 1. Our faith in Christ is our foundation of resting in God. (Heb 3:18 & 19, 4:1 & 2) 2. The Seventh Day Sabbath is a covenant that was made at creation, which God blessed and sanctified forever. (Heb 4:4,5,8) 3. Surrendering to the leading of the Holy Spirit is the way we may attain true peace through action in His service. (Heb 4:9-13) 4. Coming boldly to the throne of grace, we walk through life connected with Him. (Heb 4:14-16) 20/ Peter’s Ladder (2Peter 1:5-7) 1. Faith and Virtue - Reconciliation 2. Knowledge and Self-control - Justification 3. Patience or endurance and Godliness - Sanctification 4. Brotherly Kindness and Agape Love - Perfection 21/ The Book of Revelation 1. The first 3 chapters are about the shortcomings of the churches in earth. 2. Chapter 4 & 5 are about Christ being accepted and acknowledged as worthy – then the seals and in chapter 7 the sealing of God’s people. 3. Then there are chapters about the sanctification of the saints 4. And finally the return of Christ and the restoration of heaven on earth 22/ What You Need {Revelation 3:17-21} 1. Gold – Deep faith 2. White raiment – Repentance and purpose to God 3. Eye salve to see – The full gospel internalized and in action 4. Open the door – A living personal connection with Jesus Christ 23/ Choose the Path Out of Confusion (3 Angels of Rev 14) 1. Fear God. Obey Him and worship Him as The Creator – 7th Day Sabbath, Saturday. 2. Babylon is fallen. Let go of her unbiblical false doctrines like Sunday worship. 3. At the end - If you go along with the wine of her false doctrine like the rest of the world, then you will receive the 7 last plagues like Egypt but much worse. 4. Victorious will be those who enduringly keep all the commandments of God and keep the faith of Jesus. 24/ The Last Supper 1. The true Passover lamb entered Jerusalem willingly on a donkey’s colt. 2. A man with a water container. He washed their feet. 3. He broke bread with them; promised the soon coming Holy Spirit, Asked them 6 times to pray for anything in His name and He would do it. 4. He prayed for them to be one with Him as He is one with His Father. 25/ The History of the Earth – Past and Future 1. Eden was heaven on earth and there the sacrificial system was instituted. 2. Then the earth was cleansed of the wicked by the flood, 3. As it will be purified by fire in the future. 4. And ultimately heaven will return to a renewed earth. 26/ The Sanctuary Perfectly Expressed in the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ 1. The Sacrifice of the Lamb of God. He went quietly like a lamb. Sweated great droplets of blood taking on our sins. Was crucified. 2. The Lavar of Water. “Father forgive them for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). The death, burial and resurrection of Jesus – baptism (new man) 3. The Holy Place. The upper room – The scripture explained by Christ, the presence of the Holy Spirit, united prayer as never before. 4. The Most Holy Place. Christ ascended to heaven with two angels nearby. So What? So what does the constant repetition of the Sanctuary pattern throughout the New Testament mean? We know when God repeats something it means it is very, very important for salvation. We also know the Sanctuary was always about dealing with sin. The messages of two gardens need to come together to answer this very important question. The chain reaction of sin in the Garden of Eden is described beautifully by Ellen White using very powerful language: But absorbed in her pleasing task, she unconsciously wandered from his side. On perceiving that she was alone, she felt an apprehension of danger, but dismissed her fears, deciding that she had sufficient wisdom and strength to discern evil and to withstand it. Unmindful of the angels' caution, she soon found herself gazing with mingled curiosity and admiration upon the forbidden tree. (P&P p.53) So absorption is not only dangerous in eastern meditation but also in zoning out in daydreams or watching TV when we surrender the will. The spiritual sleep combined with reliance on self is presented as being devastating.
Can you see the chain reaction of sin in the Garden of Eden? The message from the Garden of Gethsemane was that Jesus took on our sins that we may have the opportunity to wake up; to watch and pray that we enter not into temptation. His revolutionary message in the Sermon on the Mount was reminding us we are as guilty from our wrong thoughts as we are if we carried out those thoughts in action. In the Garden of Eden were clarified 4 gears or 4 modes of thinking that you and I are to watch closely:
The message from the Garden of Gethsemane was watch and pray that you enter not into temptation(Mat 26:41). 1/Eve saw the fruit(physical senses) 2/was attracted to it(automatic reactions) 3/desire grew with Satan’s conversation(emotions and stories) 4/her conscience was separated from God as she decided to eat the forbidden fruit(conscience). “You will have to become a faithful sentinel over your eyes, ears, and all your senses, if you would control your mind, and prevent vain and corrupt thoughts from staining your soul.” {MYP 76.1} “Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.” Mark 14:38. Watch against the stealthy approach of the enemy, watch against old habits and natural inclinations, lest they assert themselves; force them back, and watch. Watch the thoughts; watch the plans, lest they become self-centered. Watch over the souls whom Christ has purchased with His own blood. Watch for opportunities to do them good. (6T 410.2) “…the only security for any soul is right thinking. We are to use every means that God has placed within our reach for the government and cultivation of our thoughts.”--Lt 123, 1904. 660 {2MCP 659.2} “You should control your thoughts. This will not be an easy task; you cannot accomplish it without close and even severe effort. Yet God requires this of you; it is a duty resting upon every accountable being. You are responsible to God for your thoughts. If you indulge in vain imaginations, permitting your mind to dwell upon impure subjects, you are, in a degree, as guilty before God as if your thoughts were carried into action. All that prevents the action is the lack of opportunity.” {AH 334.4} …bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:5) The transformation of character must take place before His coming. Our natures must be pure and holy; we must have the mind of Christ, that He may behold with pleasure His image reflected upon our souls . . .. {OHC 278.3} People in the East were given the same pattern for right thinking in the form of the 4 Noble Truths and the Four Foundations of Mindfulness. There the pattern was submerged in a culture of reliance on self and mysticism. There will be no latter rain of the Holy Spirit until God’s people fully understand Christ’s Sanctuary Message for right thinking and apply it in every minute of the days of their lives. The peculiar group called ‘God’s Remnant People’ will be made up of wise individuals from many different religions and denominations. They will join in choosing every day, all day to follow God’s wisdom, to be connected to Him through God’s Sanctuary Pattern for right thinking. Then the profound blessing of the latter rain will fall abundantly. This is the gospel for our times.
“Watch and pray always that you may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.” ( Luke 21:36 ) The Sanctuary message must be understood far more deeply and it must find its powerful practical application in lives for the Holy Spirit to be able to pour out the blessing of the Latter Rain. This Biblical right thinking is different to the mindfulness being presently popularized around the world. |
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